Automatic tooth brush



Oct.'l8, 1966 s. B. BOND 3,278,963

AUTOMATIC TOOTH BRUSH Filed Dec. 4, 1962 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Brvsx: YB B D [Trait/V173 Oct. 18, 1966 s. B. BOND 3,278,963

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United States Patent 3,278,963 AUTOMATIC TOOTH BRUSH Beverly B. Bond, South Norwalk, Conu., assignor to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, NJ. Filed Dec. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 242,118 3 Claims. (Cl. 15--22) This invention relates in general to automatic tooth brush constructions and in particular to a new and useful automatic tooth brush including a casing having severable shell portions which are connected together in fluid tight manner forming a Water tight enclosure for the motor and other operating parts for the oscillation of a tooth brush which is adapted to be removably connected to a shaft mounted within the housing.

The present invention is an improvement over prior art constructions, particularly in respect to the housing construction which includes shell portions defining a cavity for the operating motor and the driving mechanism for oscillating a shaft which projects from the end of the housing and which is easily connectable to a tooth brush element. The housing shell portions advantageously include on one portion an encircling groove defined in a marginal rim which receives a projecting tongue portion formed on a marginal rim of the other portion, the two parts being held in fluid tight engagement. A sealing fluid is applied in the groove between the tongue and the groove of the connectable shell portions and promotes fluid tightness.

A further feature of the housing construction is that the shell portions provide a recess for an operating switch which switch is of novel construction and includes an 0- type sealing ring which is wedged in the recess so that an interior electrical contact portion of the switch is positioned within the housing in a fluid tight manner. The electrical connections are such that there is little or no danger of penetration of water into the operating electrical portions of the device.

A further feature of the invention is the configuration of the housing formed by the shell elements which includes a cut-away portion adjacent the brush providing a defined access for a users face to permit easy operation of the tooth brush. The housing advantageously includes an opening for a movable switch element which may be simply operated by grasping the fingers of the hand around the housing and locating the thumb in a position to operate the switch.

A further feature of the construction is the provision of an improved bearing alignment assembly which comprises spaced bearing elements which are connected together by a tubular member. The tubular member with the hearing elements is then fitted in spaced bearing recesses defined in the shell portions of the housing so that an accurate elongated bearing is provided for a spindle or shaft member which is oscillated by mechanism connected to a driving shaft of a small electric motor. The operating mechanism advantageously includes a slotted oscillating arm which is formed by extruding a material such as a plastic around the oscillating shaft. The arm is oscillated by means of an eccentric pin connection of the driving motor shaft which extends into a block element which slides in the slot of the arm. The oscillating shaft advantageously extends through the housing at an end which includes a recess for mounting a sealing O-ring around the shaft to prevent the entrance of moisture into the housing.

A further feature of the construction is that the motor employed for oscillating the shaft operates from a low voltage current supply which is obtained by a transformer rectifier power pack which is adapted to be connected to the usual 110 volt A.C. house current outlet. It is also 3,278,963 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 possible to connect the electrical motor of the tooth brush mechanism directly to a 6 volt battery source such as to the storage battery of an automobile or to one or more dry cell batteries.

A further feature of the invention is that the shell portions which form the housing are provided with a slightly oversized cavity for the driving motor and the driving motor is advantageously supported within the cavity on resilient pad elements such as urethane pads Which are arranged on each half of the housing shell members to surround the motor.

The housing shell portions are advantageously held together by means of one or more bolt elements which extend through the housing and which are sealed over their head portions by means of plastic cover elements in a fluid tight manner. The plastic cover elements are advantageously formed so that they may be removed by piercing them with a lancing member or pin and then deflecting them outwardly.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved automatic tooth brush construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush which operates in a safe manner from a low voltage current supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush having a motor therein which operates on a low voltage and including the power pack element adapted to be used with the device which includes transformer and rectifier means for adapting the tooth brush for connection to a usual volt alternating current supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush housing which includes severable shell portions, one of which includes a peripheral groove and the other of which includes a receiving tongue, the shell portions being adapted to be mated together with the tongue of one fitting into the groove of the other and the tongue being of a dimension to permit a sealing material such as a silicone to be applied in the space between the tongue and the groove to form a fluid tight seal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush which includes a housing having a cavity defined therein for receiving a driving electric motor and including a shaft which is oscillated by the motor which is arranged in a novel bearing element disposed in an elongated cavity of the housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush which includes a housing having severable shell portions, each of which includes a groove and a slot defined adjacent a portion thereof for accommodating a sliding switch contact member and wherein the switch contact member includes a base portion having an O-ring therearound and a slidable button member embracing the base portion, the construction being such that the two portions of the switch with the O-ring may be wedged in the receiving groove of the housing in a fluid tight manner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel oscillating shaft for an automatic tooth brush which includes end portions which are formed by extruding plastic material therearound in order to form integrally engaged end portions, one of which comprises an oscillatable lever arm member and the other of which comprises a projecting portion adapted to engage in a tooth brush head.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush with a housing constructed in a manner permitting easy use of the brush head portion in the mouth of the user, with the housing cut away for convenience of operation and with the housing being formed as a simple handle element which may be easily manipulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic tooth brush which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings anddescriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section through the housing of an automatic booth brush constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the tooth brush head in the direction 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation partly in section of the oscillating shaft;

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevation taken in the direction of line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power pack construction;

FIG. 9 is a schematic connection diagram for the automatic tooth brush and power pack elements;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the switch for the automatic tooth brush constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but indicating the switch in an off position; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tooth brush.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises an automatic tooth brush generally designated 10 which comprises severable shell or half portions 12 and 14 as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 11.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the housing portions 12 and 14 may be easily connected together in a fluid tight manner by means of a through bolt 16 (FIG. 4) which extends through the part 14 and is threaded into a threaded bore formed in the part 12. The part 14 includes an encircling raised tongue element 18 which fits into a groove formed in the housing shell portion 12. The groove formed in the housing shell por tion 12 is slightly greater in depth than the projection of the tongue 18 on the housing portion 14 and the space between the tongue and the interior of the groove is filled with a moisture sealing material 20 such as a silicone. This sealing material is advantageously a non-melting silicone which is a dielectric and a lubricant and thus seals and insulates. It is also a material which will not react unfavorably with a rubber or other material and should lubricate and preserve a rubber seal. The housing 14 is recessed to receive the head portion of the bolt 16 and this head portion is covered by a plastic sealing element 22 which also forms a fluid tight seal at this location. The plastic sealing cap 22 for the bolt head is sealed by suitable sealing material and is removable from the housing by a lancing instrument such as a pin which is employed to pierce the cap 22 to effect the removal thereof.

Each housing shell portion 12 and 14 is provided with a slot 24 at the rear wall 26 to provide access for a female plug connection 27 (FIGS. 1 and 9). The inner end of the slot 24 is provided with a cross recess adapted to receive a sealing plate 28 of a contact member having a pair of plugs 30 which extend into the recess 24 and are connected to connections 32 and 34 at the inner end for electrical connection to a driving motor 36 arranged at the interior of the housing. The driving motor 36 is substantially cylindrical and is of a type which operates at a power supply of approximately 6 volts direct current. Each housing portion 12 and 14 is provided with a semicylindrical cavity 38 made slightly larger in size than the outer diameter of the motor 36. Into each semi-cylindrical cavity 38 is placed a pad element 40 of a plastic material such as a urethane plastic which provides a resilient support and protection for the motor within the housing cavity 38.

The motor 36 is provided with a driving shaft 42 upon which is afiixed a plug element 44 having an eccentric pin projection 46. The eccentric pin is engaged in a block element 48 which slides in a groove 50 of an oscillatable arm 52.

In accordance with a further feature ofthe invention, the oscillatable arm 52 is advantageously made of a plastic material which is formed integrally with a metal oscillating shaft or spindle member 54. The oscillatable arm 52 is formed integrally with the shaft 54 by extruding a plastic around the shaft and the, spline portion 56 of the shaft insures that the arm will not slip relatively to the shaft 54 when the arm is driven by motor 36. The construction and arrangement are such that rotation of the shaft 42 causes the pin 46 to rotate around the axis of the shaft and causes the block 48 to slide in the slot 50 of the oscillatable arm 52 and to cause oscillation of this arm. Since the arm 52 is rigidly connected to the oscillatable shaft 54, the shaft 54 is rotatably oscillated backwardly and forwardly upon operation of the motor 36.

The opposite driving end of the oscillatable shaft54 is formed with a connecting piece 58 which is advantageously made of a plastic material which is molded integrally to this end of the oscillatable shaft 54. The connecting piece advantageously includes an upstanding rib or projection 60 which is of triangular configuration and The shaft 54 is adapted to fit snugly within the center.

of the O-ring 70 and a fluid tight seal is effected at this location.

A further feature of the construction is that the shaft 54 is supported on hearing elements 72 and 74 which are located at widely spaced locations within suitably defined recesses of the housing elements. The bearing portions 72 and 74 are maintained in precise alignment by a construction which includes a connecting sleeve bearing 76 which extends into widened bore portions of the beara ing elements 72 and 74 and is tightly connected thereto such as by press or shrink fitting.

A further feature of the invention as indicated in FIGS.

10 and 11 is the formation of the switch cavity 78 by complementary portions of the housing elements 12 and 14. The cavity 78 is connected to the exterior of the housing through a button slot 80 in which an operating button member 82 of a switch assembly generally designated 84 is operable. The switch cavity 78 is of a width to permit easy operation of the sliding button portion 82 of the switch 84 and to accommodate a contact base portion 86 and an extension base 88 having a peripheral groove with an O-ring 90 formed to overlie the extension base 88 of the switch 84 and to be wedged within the cavity between the Walls thereof in a fluid tight manner.

The switch construction is such that contacts 92 extend through the portions 86 and 88 in a fluid tight manner. The portions 86 and 88 for this purpose are advantageously made of a plastic material. In this manner, a.

spaced pair of metal contacts 92, 92 extend to the interior of the housing and are maintained free from any moisture or other contaminants to which the exterior of the housing may be subjected. The sliding member 82 advantageously carries a resilient metal contact 94 which is movable therewith either into electrical contact with the fixed contact 92 or spaced from electrical contact therewith. A resilient arm element 96 fixed to the slidable member 82 insures that the switch will be anchored in either the off or the on position.

As indicated in the connection diagram of FIG. 9, spaced contacts 92, 92 are connected by the sliding member 82 in order to connect the motor M electrically through the prong elements 30 and the female plug 27. The plug 27 advantageously connects into a power pack generally designated 98 which is provided for connecting the device directly into an outlet 100 of a type which is found in a household and which usually supplies a power at 110 volts alternating current. The power pack is advantageously provided with male plugs 102 which may easily be inserted into the wall outlet. The power pack 98 is made sufficiently light for self-support within an outlet 100 without violating any underwriting code.

As indicated in FIG. 8, the power pack advantageously includes a transformer portion 104 which is provided with a center tap 106 and end taps which are connected through diode rectifiers 108 and 110 to an outlet terminal 112. The center tap is connected to the other outlet terminal 114. The terminals 112 and 114 deliver approximately 5 volts direct current. These terminals are adapted to be connected through a cord 116 with a plug 118 to the male elements 30, 30 of the electric tooth brush. In the schematic diagram indicated in FIG. 8, the motor is shown connected to any push button type of switch for operating the tooth brush.

It should thus be appreciated that the invention provides an inexpensive automatic tooth brush which includes means for insuring that the interior operating parts will remain free from any moisture or contaminants. In addition, the device is operable at low voltage and thus the device is particularly safe for use in the home and in the bathroom where water is present.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic tooth brush comprising a housing, a driving electric motor having a shaft in said housing, an oscillatable shaft in said housing and extending outwardly from one end of said housing, drive means connected between said motor shaft and said oscillatable shaft to oscillate said oscillatable shaft upon rotation of said motor shaft, said housing comprising a pair of mating separable complementary shell portions, one of said shell portions having a groove defined along a marginal edge, the other of said shell portions having a tongue spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge extending into the groove of the other of said shell portions, and sealing material disposed between the tongue and the inner end of said groove for sealing said housing portions in a fluid tight manner, said complementary shell portions having adjacent areas defining a slot for a switch and a switch cavity in the interior of said housing, the slot defined in the complementary shell portions extending from the exterior of said housing into the switch cavity, and a switch for operating the motor including a base portion having contact means thereon positioned in the cavity and an actuating portion slidable on the base portion and extending through the slot, an O-ring secured to said base portion with the periphery extending outwardly from the side thereof, said switch base portion with said O-ring being positioned in said switch cavity in a tight fit whereby said O-ring is compressed against said housing to tightly seal the interior of said housing from the exterior.

2. In an automatic tooth brush comprising a housing, an oscillatable shaft extending outwardly through one end of said housing and motor means in said housing for oscillating said shaft, the improvement comprising a switch for operating said motor means comprising a base portion having contact elements thereon and a slidable switch portion having a second contact element thereon including a portion thereof which extends outwardly through said housing, said base portion having a wall with a peripheral groove defined therearound, an O-ring positioned in the groove at a location to extend outwardly from the bottom of said base portion, said switch being positioned in said housing in a manner to urge the O-ring into tight engagement with the surrounding wall of said housing.

3. An automatic tooth brush according to claim 2 wherein said housing defines spaced recesses, and said oscillatable shaft is supported in a bearing assembly comprising two bearing elements mounted in said recesses, and a central tubular element fastened at its ends to said bearings and having a bore through which said oscillatable shaft extends, said tubular element also forming a guide for aligning and axially spacing said bearing elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,991 8/1932 White et al. 1522.3 X 1,965,382 7/1934 Kluge 15 22.3 X 2,051,270 8/1936 Palla 1528 2,158,738 5/ 1939 Baker et al. 15-22 2,261,059 10/ 1941 Gris 1523 2,278,365 3/1942 Daniels 1522 X 2,285,505 6/ 1942 Grout et al 1528 2,310,626 2/ 1943 Gold 1523 2,709,227 5/ 1955 Foley et a1. 1522 X 2,917,758 12/1959 Held et al 1522 2,965,044 12/ 1960 Johnson 321-8 3,027,507 3/1962 Hubner 3202 3,031,202 4/1962 Melton et al 308238 3,033,197 5/ 1962 Barckley. 3,104,405 9/1963 Perrinjaquet 1522 FOREIGN PATENTS 972,635 8/ 1950 France. 1,299,056 6/ 1962 France.

555,481 7/ 1932 Germany.

- 357,705 12/ 1961 Switzerland.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN AN AUTOMATIC TOOTH BRUSH COMPRISING A HOUSING, AN OSCILLATABLE SHAFT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH ONE END OF SAID HOUSING AND MOTOR MEANS IN SAID HOUSING FOR OSCILLATING SAID SHAFT, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SWITCH FOR OPERATING SAID MOTOR MEANS COMPRISING A BASE PORTION HAVING CONTACT ELEMENTS THEREON AND A SLIDABLE SWITCH PORTION HAVIG A SECOND CONTACT ELEMENT THEREON INCLUDING A PORTION THEREOF WHICH EXTENDS OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID HOUSING, SAID BASE PORTION HAVING A WALL WITH A PERIPHERAL GROOVE DEFINED THEREAROUND, AN O-RING POSITIONED IN THE GROOVE AT A LOCATION TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID BASE PORTION, SAID SWITCH BEING POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING IN A MANNER TO URGE THE O-RING INTO TIGHT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURROUNDING WALL OF SAID HOUSING. 